Marble shooting game



Dec. 21 1926. 1,611,728

' J. DREISTADT MARBLE S HOOTI NG GAME File d March 6, 1926 5 Inventor J/ffi fire/afoaf Fatented Dec. 21, 1926.

hllTE STATES Jenn DREISTAD'I, or wrnnns'sanan, snnnsrnvaura.

MARBLE SI'IQOTING GAME.

Application filed March 6, 1928.

The present invention relates to improvements in amusement devices, and is more particularly adapted to a marble shooting game. i. Gne oi the important objects of the present invention is to provide a marble shoot ing game which will'aii'ord amusement for grown people as well as children, the game being simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a marble shooting game wherein the same includes a chute in which arranged a series of target plates, the same being tiltably supported in the chute and normally disposed in such a manner as to provide a surface over which the projectile is adapted to travel, the target plate at which the projectile stops being adapted to swing upwardly by the action of the weight of the projectile, and simultaneously providing an opening through which the projectile will pass and thus be permitted to return to a projector which is associated with the chute at one end thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawingforming a part of this application and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing two of the devices.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the game with parts shown in section, and moreparticula ly illustrating one of the target plates disposed in a vertical positiomand Figure 3 is a detail of one of the target plates.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the chute forming a part of the game, the same being substantially channeled shaped in cross section, the upper end of the chute is closed as illustrated at 2. The chute is adapted to be disposed at an incline,- and to this end I provide the supporting leg 8 for the upper closed end v2 of the chute, the lower open end of the chute having arranged on the bottom thereof the supporting button or rest l. The game Serial No. 92,839.

maybe placed on a table or any other suitable supporting surface, and as is clearly shown in Figure 2, the chute 1 will be disposed at the proper inclination.

Mounted in the open lower end of the chute l is the projector designated general- 1 by the numeral 5, the same comprising a block 6 through which extends at the lower rear portion thereof the pivot pin 7. The respective ends oi'the pivot pin are disposed within the opposite sides or the channeled shaped chute. The upper forwarc portion of the block 6 is cut away as indicated at 8 to provide a projectile receiving base, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described. A depending lip 9 is formed at the forward reduced portiono'f the block 5, and the same extends tl'irough the cut out portion 10 provided in the bottom of the chute 1, and this lip cooperates with the bottom of the chute to provide a stop whereby the upper swinging movement of the block is limited. A stop pin 11 extends transversely in the lower portion of the chute l and is disposed below the block '6 so as to limit the downward swinging movement of the block, and

this particular construction is clearly illustrated inFigure 2 of the drawing.

Extending longitudinally through the upper portion of the block 6 is the plunger rod 12, the same carrying on its forward end the head 18 which is adapted to provide a means for propelling the projectile. An actuating handle or knob 14 is mounted on the roller end oi theplunger rod. An expansible coil springle encircles the forward portion of the plunger rod and-is disposed between the plunger head 13, and the shoulder formed by the cut away portionfl in the manner also clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

Arranged within the chute 1, at a point adjacent the forward end of the block 6 of the projectile 5 to the upper closed end of the chute are the tiltable target plates 16. Each target plate is formed of sheet metal material and substantially rectangular in design. A pair of pivot forming ears such as are shown at 17 project laterally from the longitudinal sides of each of the target plates and these pivot forming projections are preferably located at a point adjacent the lower end of the plate for a purpose to be presently apparent.

The pivot forming projections 17 are adapted to be'received insuitable openings provided therefor in the opposed sides of the channel shaped chute 1, and these openings are formed in the sides of the chute at spaced intervals so that each of the tiltable plates will be adapted to swing freely between the sides of the chute. As the pivot forming projections 17 are located at a pointbelow the transverse center, the upper portion of each of the plates will have a tendency to swing downwardly and for this purpose of limiting the downward swinging movement of the upper portions of the plates, there is provided the transversely disposed stop pins 18.

The provision of the stop pins 18 enables the series of target plates 16 to be normally disposed in substantially the same plane so that a surface is provided over which the projectile is free to travel, as will also be presently described. The plates are further supported in the channeled chutes 1 in such a manner as to provide sufficient space between the bottom of the chutes and the plates when in their normal surface form- 1 ing position as to provide a return for the projectile to the base 8 of the projector.

Each of the plates have printed or otherwise arranged on the upper face thereof suitable indicia which is indicative of certain predetermining scoring points, and as is clearly illustrated in Figure 1, the value of the point increases gradually toward the top or upper end of the chute.

In playing the game, a marble or the like indicated at 19 is placed on the base 8 of the block 6 and then the block is swung upwardly on its pivot 7 until the lip 9 engages the bottom of the chute 1. The plunger rod 12 is then retracted by pulling rearwardly on the handle or knob 14: so that the coil spring 15 is compressed and the plunger head 13 ismoved rearwardly.

W hen the block 6 is disposed in its uppermost position, the base 8 will lie substantially flush with the lowermost plate 16, and by releasing the knob 14, the coil spring 15 will force the plunger head 13 forwardly, thus propelling or shooting the marble 19 off of the base onto the surface formed by the target plates 16.

The plate at which the marble stops, which depends upon the speed at which the marble travels will be caused to swing upwardly to a vertical position, by the action of the weight of the marble resting on the lower portion of the particular plate. The plate which is swung upwardly to a vertical position will display the scoring numeral 20 so that the same will be readily visible to the persons playing the game, as the numeral is arranged wholly on the upper portion of each plate.

Furthermore, the plate which has been swung upwardly by the projectile will simultaneously form the opening 21 which will permit the projectile to drop into the bottom of the chute 1, and due to the inclination at which the chute is disposed, the projectile will by gravity return to the marble receiving face 8 of the projector. It is of course understood that after the marble has been shot by the plunger mec ianism of the projector, the latter will return to its normal position so that the base 8 will be in cooperative engagement with the upper face of the bottom of the chute.

In Figure 1 of the drawing, I have illustrated two of such games, the same are hingedly connected together at their upper closed ends as illustrated at 22, the game devices being disposed in diverging relation, so t "t the two games may be independently operated. Any number of persons may join in in playing the same and the same will afford amusement to grown people as well as to children, and furthermore necessitates the exercising of great skill in order to obtain the highest score.

The simplicity in which my improved game device is constructed enables the same to be manufactured at a very low cost, yet be strong and durable, and. furthermore will at all times be positive and eiiicient in carrying out the purposes for which the same is designed.

ll hile I have shown the preferred embodi ment of my invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape, and ar rangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1- 1. A game comprising a chute, a projector at one end thereof, a series of tiltable target plates mounted in said chute, each of said plates having pivot forming projections formed on the sides thereof at a point below the transverse center of the plate, a series of transversely extending stop pins arranged in the chute at spaced intervals and cooperating with the heavier upper end portions of the plate in limiting the downward swinging movement thereof whereby said plates are normally disposed in such a manner as to form a surface over which a projectile may travel when shot by the projector, the plate on which the projectile stops being adapted to swing upwardly to an indicating position and simultaneously providing an escape for the projectile to drop through.

2. A marble shooting game comprising an upwardly inclined chute, the upper end thereof being closed, a projector pivotally supported in the lower end of the chute, said projector including a marble receiving base, and a spring pressed plunger, a series of tilt tit;

lUU

able target plates mounted in the chute and normally disposed to provide a surface over which the marble may travel when the plunger mechanism of the projector is actuated and when the projector is swung in one position, the plate on which the marble stops being adapted to swing upwardly to an indicating position and simultaneously providing an escape for the marble to drop through, the marble being returned to the base of the projector when the projector is disposed in its lowermost position.

3. A marble shooting game comprising an upwardly inclined chute, the upper end thereof oeing closed, aprojector pivotally supported in the lower end of the chute, said projector including a marble receiving base, and a spring pressed plunger, a series of tiltable target plates mounted in the chute and normally disposed to provide a surface over which the marble may travel when the plunger mechanism of the projector is actuated and when the projector is swungin one position, the plate on which the marble stops being adapted to swing upwardly to an indicating position and simultaneously providing an escape for the marble to drop through, the marble being returned to the base of the projector when the projector is disposed in its lowermost position, and means for limiting the swinging movement of the projector in either direction.

4. A marble shooting game comprising an upwardly inclined chute, the upper end thereof being closed, a projector pivotally supported in the lower end of the chute, said projector including a marble receiving base, a depending lip formed on the forward end of said projector, the forward portion of the marble receiving base extending downwardly through an opening provided therefor in the bottom of the lower portion of said chute, said lip cooperating with the bottom face of the chute for limiting the upward swinging movement of the projector, a spring pressed plunger assocated with the projector, a series of tiltable target plates mounted in the chute and normally disposed to provide a surface over which the marble may travel when the plunger mechanism of the projector is actuated and when the projector is swung to its uppermost position, the plate on which the marble stops being adapted to swing upwardly to an indicating position and simultaneously providing an escape for the marble to drop through, the marble being returned to the base of the projector when the latter is disposed in its lowermost position, an additional means for limiting the downward swinging movement of the projector.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN DREISTADT, 

